About Us

AHEAD is an independent non-profit organisation working with and for disabled people to shape inclusive and empowering environments in tertiary education and employment. The main focus of our work is further education and training, higher education and graduate employment.

AHEAD provides information to students and graduates with disabilities, teachers, guidance counsellors and parents on disability issues in education. We undertake national research relating to the inclusion of students with disabilities, contribute to national policy forums and provide professional development opportunities to develop the capacity of staff in FET and higher education to be more inclusive.

AHEAD works with graduates and employers through the GET AHEAD Graduate Forum and the WAM Mentored Work Placement Programme.

AHEAD was formed in 1988 by university students with disabilities to connect with peers and advocates for change. Over time, the organisation became an independent NGO and expanded to work on the inclusion of disabled people across tertiary education and support the transition to employment.

AHEAD is a partner of LINK, an action learning network of European organisations promoting the inclusion of students & graduates with disabilities in Higher Education.

Our Strategic Objectives

As outlined in our strategic plan, in further education and training, higher education and employment, AHEAD's aims are:

A: Lived Experience - Engage and partner with learners and graduates to create supportive communities and amplify the lived experience of disability
B: National Policy - Affect change in national policy to positively impact on the inclusion of disabled people and the realisation of their rights
C: Organisational Change - Facilitate education providers and employers to strategically embed universal design, inclusion, and the empowerment of disabled people
D: Individual Capacity - Build the capacity of people to be disability-inclusive in their roles, and to advocate for inclusion in their organisations
E: Collaboration and Communication - Foster collaboration and communicate effectively with stakeholders to support our mission and vision
F: Good Governance - Maintain and develop good governance to sustain the organisation